Smith River Trip 2008 — Helena Montana
7-13 May 2008
For the past several years there has been an annual fishing trip on the Smith River near Helena, Montana that has been organized by Mike Geary of Lewis & Clark Expeditions. These fishing trips have been a free guided 5 day float and camp trip for veteran soldiers from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Mike Geary came up with the idea for this trip several years back as a way to thank soldiers for their service and sacrifices. In addition to Mike Geary there has been multiple different fishing guides who have volunteered their time and services to help out with each trip. The 2008 trip was the first year that the volunteers included members from all the different outfitters that do guided fishing trips on the Smith River.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing has been fortunate enough every year so far in being able to have 3-5 soldiers from various PHWFF chapters attend these trips. This year’s trip May 7 – 13 had 5 of the 8 participants which were David Folkerts, Norris Galatas, Michael Dinkel, Ryan Hamme, and Sam Floberg came from other PHWFF programs. For many of these vets this was their first ever big fly fishing trip and was a real treat for them to have it be on the exclusive Smith River.
The first day consisted of all the veterans flying into Helena, Montana, meeting up with Mike Geary and the other volunteer guides, and going out to eat for a get-to-know-everyone event. The first night prior to heading out to the Smith River the veterans all stayed in a beautiful bed and breakfast hotel that was located in Helena, Montana. The next day the soldiers were picked up from their hotel by their guides and all were soon on their way to the Smith River. After a 45 minute ride up into the mountains everyone’s gear was loaded onto drift boats, waders were put on, and fly rods were put together, thus signifying the official start to the fun part of the trip. The rest of the first day consisted of fishing off the drift boat and floating down the river to the first camp site. Upon arrival tents were set up, food was eaten, and shared stories of the first day’s trip were told by all. The next 4 days consisted of the same routine of breaking down camp, getting on the drift boats, fishing all day, arriving at camp, setting up camp and going to sleep just to do it all over again. Even though every day was the same routine there was always new beautiful scenery to look at and new fish to catch which could never get boring.
On the last day of being on the Smith River upon arrival at the take out point everyone was tired but relaxed from having just accomplished an amazing trip that will never be forgotten. The final night consisted of getting together for one last time as a group at Mike Geary’s home where food, drink and stories of the trip where found to be in plenty. The last night came to close with all the vets heading back to the bed and breakfast that they had stayed at previously. The only sad part of the trip was the next morning when all the vets gave their farewells and boarded airplanes headed back to the real world. Though disappointed in having to leave, all were left with memories that will never leave.
